An aerospace galley insert includes an oven defining therein an oven inner cavity for receiving food to be prepared and a fluid supply for supplying fluid comprising water or water vapour to the oven inner cavity. The galley also includes an exterior space, a heat pipe extending between the cavity and the exterior space, a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature in the cavity, a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature in the exterior space, and a third temperature sensor for detecting a third temperature of the heat pipe where it extends into the exterior space. The system also includes a control unit configured to determine an actual water vapour concentration in the oven inner cavity based on the first, second and third temperatures, and configured to control the fluid supply in order to adjust the actual water vapour concentration to a target water vapour concentration.

An aerospace galley insert includes an oven defining therein an oven inner cavity for receiving food to be prepared and a fluid supply for supplying fluid comprising water or water vapour to the oven inner cavity. The galley also includes an exterior space, a heat pipe extending between the cavity and the exterior space, a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature in the cavity, a second temperature sensor for detecting a second temperature in the exterior space, and a third temperature sensor for detecting a third temperature of the heat pipe where it extends into the exterior space. The system also includes a control unit configured to determine an actual water vapour concentration in the oven inner cavity based on the first, second and third temperatures, and configured to control the fluid supply in order to adjust the actual water vapour concentration to a target water vapour concentration.

A method and device for detecting the amount of limescale that accumulates in liquid heating devices, in particular for heating water. The method is capable of establishing, through simple temperature measurements, if the amount of limescale deposited on the heater element of a device for heating liquids is such as to jeopardize the correct operation thereof and provides the user with information on the need to clean the aforesaid heater.

A method and device for detecting the amount of limescale that accumulates in liquid heating devices, in particular for heating water. The method is capable of establishing, through simple temperature measurements, if the amount of limescale deposited on the heater element of a device for heating liquids is such as to jeopardize the correct operation thereof and provides the user with information on the need to clean the aforesaid heater.

A fluid sensor for sensing a concentration or composition of a fluid, the sensor comprising: a semiconductor substrate comprising a first etched portion and a second etched portion; a dielectric region located on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric region comprises a first dielectric membrane located over the first etched portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a second dielectric membrane located over the second etched portion of the semiconductor substrate; two temperature sensing elements on or within the first dielectric membrane and two temperature sensing elements on or within the second dielectric membrane; an output circuit configured to measure a differential signal between the two temperature sensing elements of the first dielectric membrane and the two temperature sensing elements of the second dielectric membrane; wherein the first dielectric membrane is exposed to the fluid and the second dielectric membrane is isolated from the fluid.

A fluid sensor for sensing a concentration or composition of a fluid, the sensor comprising: a semiconductor substrate comprising a first etched portion and a second etched portion; a dielectric region located on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric region comprises a first dielectric membrane located over the first etched portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a second dielectric membrane located over the second etched portion of the semiconductor substrate; two temperature sensing elements on or within the first dielectric membrane and two temperature sensing elements on or within the second dielectric membrane; an output circuit configured to measure a differential signal between the two temperature sensing elements of the first dielectric membrane and the two temperature sensing elements of the second dielectric membrane; wherein the first dielectric membrane is exposed to the fluid and the second dielectric membrane is isolated from the fluid.

A dual-wall, vacuum-insulated container (30, 40) has an external wall (1), an internal wall (3) and there in-between a vacuum chamber (5), in which there is arranged a heat insulation device (2, 20). At least three temperature sensors (13, 13a, 13b, 14, 15) that are spaced apart from another recurringly register instantaneous temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) of the container (30, 40). At least in some points there is calculated a temperature course using a heat insulation model on the basis of the construction and material characteristics of the container and the heat radiation resulting therefrom, which temperature course contains at least two of the temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) registered. From the temperature course there is calculated a desired temperature value for the position of at least one further of the temperature sensors and compared with the actual temperature value actually registered by this temperature sensor. From the deviation between the desired temperature value and the actual temperature value there is detected a change of the heat insulation quality of the container.

A dual-wall, vacuum-insulated container (30, 40) has an external wall (1), an internal wall (3) and there in-between a vacuum chamber (5), in which there is arranged a heat insulation device (2, 20). At least three temperature sensors (13, 13a, 13b, 14, 15) that are spaced apart from another recurringly register instantaneous temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) of the container (30, 40). At least in some points there is calculated a temperature course using a heat insulation model on the basis of the construction and material characteristics of the container and the heat radiation resulting therefrom, which temperature course contains at least two of the temperatures (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.2A, T.sub.2B, T.sub.3) registered. From the temperature course there is calculated a desired temperature value for the position of at least one further of the temperature sensors and compared with the actual temperature value actually registered by this temperature sensor. From the deviation between the desired temperature value and the actual temperature value there is detected a change of the heat insulation quality of the container.

A device for measuring a concentration of a component in a target sample includes a flow chamber with a first channel that receives a reference sample having a known concentration of the component. The flow chamber also includes a second channel that receives the target sample having an unknown concentration of the component. A pump operates to pump the reference sample and the target sample at a same volume flow rate through the first and second channels, respectively. A thermal mass flow meter measures a thermal conductivity of the reference sample, a thermal conductivity of the target sample, or both.

A device for measuring a concentration of a component in a target sample includes a flow chamber with a first channel that receives a reference sample having a known concentration of the component. The flow chamber also includes a second channel that receives the target sample having an unknown concentration of the component. A pump operates to pump the reference sample and the target sample at a same volume flow rate through the first and second channels, respectively. A thermal mass flow meter measures a thermal conductivity of the reference sample, a thermal conductivity of the target sample, or both.